with violence subdued by UN force+UNAMET - UN was able to establish Transitional Administration in East Timor(UNTAET), October 1999 - goal was to establish and maintain law and order, prepare state fro self-government and sustainable development

faced numerous problems - UN was offering limited and confused consultation to timorese people about their future

UNTAET succeeded in organising elections and paved way for independence

20th may 2002 - East timor declared independent. UNTAET replaced by UN Mission of Support in East timor - remained scaled down peacekeeping force until 2004

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East Timor, 1999-2002

elections a success and carrier out peacefully

UN involvement represented steep learning curve - one that could be repeated in future UN operations which involve transtions to independence.

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Sierra Leone, 1999-present

civil war erupted, March 1991

July 1998 - Security Council established UN Observer Mission in Sierra Leone.

impact of 9/11 attacks: Iraq

security council recognised the inherent right of individual or collective self defence - introduced resolution 1368

US declared military campaign in Afghanistan and focused on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. US sought legitimacy for its actions through UN

late 2002 Bush's admin becoming anxious to get Security Council to accept that only military action was possible - diplomacy would not work

US faced growing lack of support from UN members

Only Britian+Spain willing to back US demands for military action against Iraq

security council endorsed US military attacks against Taliban. France + Russia not convinced US had shown link between Iraq and terrorism

opponents of UN not willing to accept Buish Doctrine

the basis of US international relations in the new age of aggressive anti-American terrorism was to be founded upon the idea that Washington could decided what government, through its percieved links with terrorism, would be targetted.

security council set up United Nations Monitoring, verification and Inspection Commission(UNMOVIC)

US placed little faith in these agencies. Any lengthy diplomacy would reive US military power in iraq

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impact of 9/11 attacks: Iraq

Washington wanted to be free to use its power against any state that threatened US interests

perception of a threat was sufficient - no need to prove link

US commitement to Bush Doctrine contrasted UN's commitment to regulate force through international agreement

US commitment to fighting terrorism deeply divided UN

Iraq did not present a danger to US nor was it closely linked to those who did.

US was always most important state in UN

start of 21st century growing opposition to US unilateralism within UN

US invasion of Iraq led to increase of opposition

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Darfur, 2003-4

fighting between gov. forces and rebels from Sudanese Liberation Army made thousands refugees

2004 - 100,000 refugees + million others displaced

May 2004 - Security Council called Sudanese government to disarm Arab military groups - Janjaweed. Sudanese authorities agreed.

security council due to take more robust action but Russia+China abstained vote

China + Russia had economic interests in Sudan so opposed any UN enforcement there

even US had self-interest there and did nothing to push for UN intervention - US didn't want to undermine Sudanese cooperation against terrorism

Islamic states not willing to pressure other islamic states

Darfur Crisis showed lack of will to stop humanitarian crisis in Sudan. - no attempt to stop it in the first place

growing recognition within Security Council that humanitarian crisis were threats to international peace and security